ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
Women and girls are often better at concealing their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis or a delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women with ADHD concentration is the most difficult thing to do. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to remain focused at school, during meetings at work, or when listening to others talk. It can also be difficult to complete everyday tasks like keeping track of appointments or making sure to take medications.
Difficulty focusing is one of the most common adhd symptoms for girls and women, regardless of their gender identity or whether they have hyperactive/impulsive or inattentive ADHD. Women who suffer from the inattentive version of the condition may have trouble organizing their house or desks and may find it difficult to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These issues can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or place, or failing to complete their work duties. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to keep track of the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance and the accumulation of debt. They are often caused by stress or other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression that often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentional ADHD are not diagnosed or recognized because of biases that teachers and parents might be prone to towards males and females. They may not be able to express their ADHD symptoms as well, especially the hyperactive/impulsive ones, and may have difficulty finding treatment that works for them.
Hormonal changes can also cause symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods that is the time leading up to the menopausal phase of a woman which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems like mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medications can help increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or manage responsibilities. You may struggle to remember important details about people or events particularly when they occur in a noisy or busy environment. You might also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or responding to emails, which could lead to financial stress and a sense of urgency. You might have trouble working in a crowded or loud office and often lose focus during conversations, leaving the other person to feel disregarded or untruthful.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They also run the risk of being forced into unwanted sexual behavior or becoming intimate partner violence victims. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also struggle with self-esteem, and may be more inclined to see their problems as "personal imperfections" instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias, women and girls with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They may be more likely to camouflage their symptoms by claiming mood or anxiety issues and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen rises. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you gain the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to get worse. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can calm your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They also aid in improving the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional could be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that may help you manage ADHD symptoms at school or at work.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to be more sluggish than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be because women and girls have different brains than males and females. It could also be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and can lead to other health problems. For instance, some women use excessive alcohol and other drugs to deal with their problems. They might also develop depression or other mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it harder for someone to recognize they are suffering from a disorder and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can affect their school or work performance, as well as their relationships. These include being incapable of staying focused on a particular task, ignoring important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their hands or feet, or squirm. They may also speak out loud or yell. they may be disruptive.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive type of adhd might have trouble concentrating on their lectures or conversations and juggling writing, reading, or schoolwork; following instructions at the workplace or in class and juggling daily tasks. They might be unorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be challenging to keep up with tasks or commitments. They are more vulnerable to misplacing or losing items such as keys, wallets, and eyeglasses.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of adhd can cause issues at work, home or in school. It can also trigger feelings of irritability, boredom and anger. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at home, school or at work and they frequently interrupt others. They are not able to control their behavior and are likely to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls who have ADHD may have a harder time to manage their symptoms. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If adhd in women test suffering from ADHD struggles to manage her responsibilities, she could feel anxious and stressed that can cause low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed because their symptoms are not as evident as those of men and boys. They may present with primarily inattentive symptoms, which do not have the same outward appearance as hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms, making them less likely to receive a referral for treatment from teachers and parents. Additionally, they are more likely to develop coping strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms, such as excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change throughout a woman's lifetime. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, like menstruation or pregnancy, a woman could notice her ADHD symptoms to be exacerbated. This could cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or dismissed as being emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research into how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomical structure. gender is an internal perception of the person you are as a man, woman, or if you're non-binary, an individual. This distinction is important as it allows us to better know the reasons behind why ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. In this article, we refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as men and boys and women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on sex and gender.